IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jecomi/v13y2025i2p49-d1590286.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Evaluation of Data-Driven Sustainability Potential at SMEs Using an Altered Ecocanvas Model

Author

Listed:
  • Levente Péter Bálint

    (Doctoral School of Management and Business, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi út, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
    Institute of Methodology and Business Digitalization, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi út, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary)

  • László Várallyai

    (Institute of Methodology and Business Digitalization, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi út, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary)

  • Szilvia Botos

    (Institute of Methodology and Business Digitalization, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi út, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary)

Abstract

Incorporating sustainability into business operations is likely to become one of the most significant priorities and challenges for companies in the near future. SMEs operating within conventional frameworks often experience constraints when adjusting to evolving circumstances. They frequently lack resources, qualified experts, skills, and capabilities to enable the efficient implementation of DT within the organization. In this paper, Eurostat datasets were analyzed to uncover trends in SME digitalization and sustainability, focusing on patterns in data utilization, employee training, and environmental considerations. These insights were integrated into an altered Ecocanvas sustainability modeling tool to develop a framework supporting their strategic planning and decision-making. It has proven to be a useful tool for this purpose by mapping business processes against sustainability and strategic goals while indicating where digital or alternative solutions can be introduced. SMEs analyze data and consider environmental impacts at different levels based on their size categories. To determine whether these differences are statistically significant, we have performed one-way ANOVA tests. This paper aims to provide a data-driven situational analysis and tool, which outlines the benefits of data analytics from several aspects while offering practical recommendations for company leaders to consider and implement.

Suggested Citation

  • Levente Péter Bálint & László Várallyai & Szilvia Botos, 2025. "Evaluation of Data-Driven Sustainability Potential at SMEs Using an Altered Ecocanvas Model," Economies, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-25, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jecomi:v:13:y:2025:i:2:p:49-:d:1590286
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7099/13/2/49/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7099/13/2/49/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chatzistamoulou, Nikos, 2023. "Is digital transformation the Deus ex Machina towards sustainability transition of the European SMEs?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    2. Guo, Xin & Pang, Weiyan, 2025. "The impact of digital transformation on corporate ESG performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Rafael Martínez-Peláez & Alberto Ochoa-Brust & Solange Rivera & Vanessa G. Félix & Rodolfo Ostos & Héctor Brito & Ramón A. Félix & Luis J. Mena, 2023. "Role of Digital Transformation for Achieving Sustainability: Mediated Role of Stakeholders, Key Capabilities, and Technology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-27, July.
    2. Broccardo, Laura & Tenucci, Andrea & Agarwal, Reeti & Alshibani, Safiya Mukhtar, 2024. "Steering digitalization and management control maturity in small and medium enterprises (SMEs)," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    3. Ahmed Al-Omush & Munther Talal Momany & Azzam Hannoon & Muhammad Anwar, 2023. "Digitalization and Sustainable Competitive Performance in Small–Medium Enterprises: A Moderation Mediation Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-22, November.
    4. Vasconcelos-Garcia, Madalena & Carrilho-Nunes, Inês, 2024. "Internationalisation and digitalisation as drivers for eco-innovation in the European Union," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 245-256.
    5. Horbach, Jens, 2023. "Digitalisation and sustainability strategies at the firm level," Ruhr Economic Papers 1001, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen, revised 2023.
    6. Isotilia Costa Melo & Paulo Nocera Alves Junior & Geandra Alves Queiroz & Wilfredo Yushimito & Jordi Pereira, 2023. "Do We Consider Sustainability When We Measure Small and Medium Enterprises’ (SMEs’) Performance Passing through Digital Transformation?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-30, March.
    7. Nikos Chatzistamoulou & Phoebe Koundouri, 2024. "Is Green Transition in Europe Fostered by Energy and Environmental Efficiency Feedback Loops? The Role of Eco-Innovation, Renewable Energy and Green Taxation," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 87(6), pages 1445-1472, June.
    8. Linghu, Jingying & Guo, Chengcheng, 2024. "Digital government: The new player in improving mining companies’ environmental performance?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    9. Mauricio Vasconcellos Leao Lyrio & Karen Sabrina Bayestorff Duarte & Tenorio Abs Jr. & Fabricia Silva da Rosa & Rogerio Joao Lunkes, 2024. "Data Science in Promoting the Participation of SMEs in Public Biddings in Santa Catarina State, Brazil: The Case of BIEL," Public Administration Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 13(2), pages 1-52, October.
    10. Abhishek Tripathi & Ajay Singh, 2024. "SMEs Awareness and Preparation for Digital Transformation: Exploring Business Opportunities for Entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia’s Ha’il Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-28, May.
    11. Abhishek Tripathi, 2024. "Mapping the digitalization in SMEs of Middle East region: trends and insights from bibliometric analysis," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 1-16, December.
    12. Aurelija Burinskienė & Jolanta Nalivaikė, 2024. "Digital and Sustainable (Twin) Transformations: A Case of SMEs in the European Union," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-24, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jecomi:v:13:y:2025:i:2:p:49-:d:1590286. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.